Independence Pass reopens Tuesday morning after overnight storm
The Aspen Times file photo
Independence Pass east of Aspen reopened Tuesday morning after an overnight storm dropped up to 8 inches on parts of Highway 82 over the Continental Divide.
The Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center had crews up the pass Tuesday morning, and CDOT crews were up plowing and sanding the road. Parts of the highway picked up 6 to 8 inches, CDOT said in a news release.
CDOT will monitor the weather conditions daily “to determine if the pass can stay open.”
“This is going to be a day-to-day operation and so motorists should check our traveler information website for the most up to date information on whether we have Indy open or not,” Tim Holbrook, CDOT maintenance supervisor, said in the release.
The winter gate 5 miles east of Aspen was closed Monday at 7 p.m. for safety reasons.
Independence Pass traditionally closes every year in early November and re-opens in time for Memorial Day Weekend.
CDOT is trying to keep the pass open while the Grand Avenue Bridge detour is in place in Glenwood Springs. The detour is expected to end ahead of schedule in early November.
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